Alameda County Biographies

Walter D. Cole

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

	Walter D. Cole, a representative of the legal profession in Oakland, has here practiced 
as a member of the firm of Peck, Bunker & Cole since March, 1911. His birth occurred in San 
Bernardino county, California, on the 15th of April, 1880, his parents being James A. and Mary 
E. Cole. The father came to California in 1850, settling in San Bernardino county, where he 
engaged in farming and stockraising and became a large landowner. His demise occurred in the 
year 1885.
	Walter D. Cole completed the high-school course in 1900 and subsequently entered the 
law department of the University of Michigan, from which institution he was graduated in 1905. 
Locating for practice in Tonopah, Nevada, he there followed his profession until 1909 or until 
appointed by the supreme court as a member of the code commission for the revising of the state 
laws. His duties in that connection demanded his attention until March, 1911, when he came to 
Oakland and joined the law firm of Peck & Bunker, which has since been known as Peck, Bunker & 
Cole. This firm are the personal attorneys and are handling the corporation interests of F. M. 
Smith in the bay region and throughout California. Mr. Cole has always realized that success 
depends largely upon a thorough preparation of his cases and has never feared that laborious 
work of the office which must precede the presentation of his case in the court�room. His 
reasoning is strong, his deductions logical and his points follow in a natural sequence that 
cannot fail to impress court and jury with the correctness of his opinion. He never fails to 
command the attention of those in the courtroom and seldom fails to win the verdict desired.
	In Oakland, on the 7th of October, 1907, Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Winifred 
Burdge, by whom he has two children, John A. and Walter D., Jr., who were born in 1909 and 1911, 
respectively. In politics Mr. Cole is a democrat, believing firmly in the principles of that party. 
He has many genial and admirable qualities which have gained him a host of friends and it is 
characteristic of him that he holds friendship inviolable.

Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914, p. 67